News article
7 July 2010
John Stevenson MP Voted Chair of Food and Drink Manufacturing All Party Parliamentary Group
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PRESS RELEASE
On Tuesday 6 July, local Conservative MP for Carlisle John Stevenson
(pictured
[right] with Ross Warburton, FDF president) was appointed as Chair of the Food and Drink Manufacturing All Party Parliamentary Group at the 2010 AGM.
The primary functions of this important Group are to consider the issues of
concern to the food and drink manufacturing industry and to raise awareness of
these
matters in Parliament, to promote the interests of the industry ensuring
Parliamentarians remain informed of key issues, and to provide a forum for
debate and
dialogue about issues related to food and drink manufacturing.
The food and drink industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK, and
its' importance to the overall economy should not be underestimated. Within
Carlisle itself, food manufacturers like Carr's Milling, United Biscuits and
Nestlé
are a significant source of employment and productivity. One of the roles of
the
APPG is to encourage the government to avoid increasing the burden of
regulation
that can directly impact a business's ability to remain competitive in a
challenging economic environment.
Mr Stevenson said “I am looking forward to the opportunities presented by
chairing the Food and Drink Manufacturing APPG, which I hope will enable me to
generate significant legislative support for an industry which offers world
class
capabilities in production, logistics, sales, marketing and innovation. By
supporting
the industry nationally, we can expect to reap the benefits closer to home in
Carlisle, which remains a regional centre for manufacturing excellence.”
Elected as the Conservative MP for Carlisle in May 2010 (with a majority of
853), John Stevenson is a partner in the law firm Bendles based in the centre
of
Carlisle. He had also been a Carlisle City Councillor since 1999.
Having been heavily involved in Carlisle and North Cumbrian politics for nearly
fifteen years, Mr Stevenson has been chairman of the Carlisle Constituency
Association as well as Penrith and the Border. He is currently the chairman of
the
North Cumbria Conservatives, a federation of the four North Cumbria
Constituencies.
Mr Stevenson was educated in Aberdeen and graduated from Dundee University in
History and Politics. He then studied at Chester Law College before qualifying
as
a Solicitor.
Notes to Editors
1. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is the voice of the food and drink
manufacturing industry – the UK's largest manufacturing sector.
More Information
- FDF Press team
-
Cath Wilkins on cath.wilkins@fdf.org.uk or 020 7420 7132
-
Sarah Lovell on sarah.lovell@fdf.org.uk or 020 7420 7131
-
Rebecca Wilhelm rebecca.wilhelm@fdf.org.uk or 020 7420 7140
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